"The
music of true-genius which becomes
more whole and more holy every day"
- Julian Cope
A Krautrock Top 50 - Julian Cope
| The Krautrock Top 50 Albums - Julian Cope | ||||
| 1 Amon Duul I | 2-5 Amon Duul II | 6-9 Ash Ra Tempel | 10-14 Can | 15-17 Cluster |
| 18 Tony Conrad w/ Faust | 19-23 Cosmic Jokers | 24-27 Faust | 28 Sergius Golowin | 29 Guru Guru |
| 30-31 Harmonia | 32 Kraftwerk | 33-34 La Dusseldorf | 35 Moebius & Plank | 36-38 Neu! |
| 39-42 Popol Vuh | 43-46 Tangerine Dream | 47-48 Klaus Schulze | 49 Walter Wegmuller | 50 Witthuser + Westrupp |
1. Amon Duul I - Paradieswarts Duul
Love is Peace 16:56
Snow your thurst and sun your open mouth 9:25
Paramechanische Welt 7:34
Eternal Flow (Bonus) 4:14
Paramechanical World (Bonus) 5:49
(Recorded November/December 1970 - Released 1971)
Ella Bauer - vocals, harp & bongos. Rainer Bauer - guitar & vocals. Ulrich Leopold - bass, piano & vocals. Dadam - guitar, bass & vocals. Hansi - flute & bongos. Klaus Esser - guitar. Helge Filanda - drums & vocals. Noam - African drum.
Simple guitar, bass and piano structures interwoven with a psychedelic vocal groove and tribal rhythms. For some reason it sounds very American and trippy hippy but it is far more open and relaxed. Imagine a bunch of mates coming back from the pub picking up each others instruments, rolling the tape, waking up a couple of days later in an acid daze and actually ending up with something worthwhile. You can even envisage someone going off to make the coffee. The Bonus tracks are just as good and possibly even better. There is far more structure to everything than what you think on the first few plays. If you are going to buy one Amon Duul I album then make sure that it is this one.
2. Amon Duul II - Phallus Dei
Kanaan 3:56
Dem Guten, Schönen, Wahren 6:00 ("For the good, the beautiful, the true")
Luzifers Ghilom 8:02
Henriette Krötenschwanz 1:59
Phallus Dei 20:45
(Released 1969)
John Weinzierl - guitar, bass & vocals. Chris Karrer - guitar, violin & vocals. Falk-Ulrich Rogner - organ. Dave Anderson - bass. Renate Knaup - vocals. Shrat - bongos & vocals. Peter Leopold - drums. Dieter Serfas - drums. with Holger Trulzsch - percussion. Christian Burchard - vibes.
Phallic! Classic early Kraut jams held together wonderfully by Dave Anderson's bass.
3. Amon Duul II - Yeti
Soap Shop Rock
a. Burning Sister 3:41
b. Halluzination Guillitine 3:05
c. Gulp A Sonata 0:45
d. Flesh-Coloured Anti-Aircraft Alarm 5:53
She Came Through The Chimney 3:56
Archangels Thunderbird 3:30
Cerberus 4:18
The Return Of Ruebezahl 1:35
Eye Shaking King 6:37
Pale Gallery 2:11
Yeti (Improvisation) 18:00
Yeti Talks To Yogi (Improvisation) 6:06
Sandoz In The Rain (Improvisation) 8:55
(Released 1970)
Peter Leopold - drums. Shrat - bongos & vocals. Renate Knaup - vocals & tambourine. John Weinzierl - guitar & vocals. Chris Karrer - guitar, violin & vocals. Falk-Ulrich Rogner - organ. Dave Anderson - bass. with Rainer Bauer - guitar & vocals. Ulrich Leopold - bass. Thomas Keyserling - flute.
The definitive 'progressive' Krautrock double album. This album should be included in the top 50 albums of all time, ever. It destroys the credibility of so many of the so called 'great' progressive bands of this era. It should form part of a European national curriculum and be enshrined as part of our great musical constitution. It is a huge huge success and should be lauded as such. It is absolutely crammed with riffs and rolls without ever drifting into the realms of pretenious meaningless drivel. Think of the great sounds of the Kinks, Stooges, Fairport Convention, Pink Floyd, Can, Traffic etc, mix it all together and chuck it through a mincer and you end up with Yeti. If you think that you know about your musical history then you will need to own a copy of this album.
4. Amon Duul II - Carnival In Babylon
CID in Uruk 5:31
All the Years Round 7:21
Shimmering Sand 6:34
Kronwinkl 12 3:51
Tables are Turned 3:33
Hawknose Harlequin 9:47
Light (Bonus) 3:48
Between the Eyes (Bonus) 2:25
All the Years Round (Single Version - Bonus) 4:11
(Released 1972)
John Weinzierl - e. guitar, acoustic 12-string & vocals. Chris Karrer - e. guitar, acoustic guitar, violin, soprano sax & vocals. Lothar Meid - bass & vocals. Renate Knaup-Krotenschwanz - vocals. Danny Fichelscher - drums & percussion. Peter Leopold - drums & tambourine. Karlheinz Hausmann - keyboards, electronics & organs. with Joy Alaska - vocals. Falk-Ulrich Rogner - organ. Olaf Kubler - soprano sax & door.
Amon Duul II it is - but not that wonderful, but at least better than Lemmings and some good moments.
5. Amon Duul II - Wolf City
Surrounded By The Stars 7:46
Green Bubble Raincoated Man 5:04
Jail-House Frog 4:54
Wolf City 3:20
Wie Der Wind Am Ende Einer Strasse 5:42
Deutsch Nepal 3:00
Sleepwalker's Timeless Bridge 4:55
(Recorded July 1972 - Released 1972)
John Weinzierl - guitar & vocals. Chris Karrer - guitar, violin, soprano sax & vocals. Renate Knaup - vocals. Falk-Ulrich Rogner - organ & synthesizer. Lothar Meid - bass & vocals. Peter Leopold - drums & FX. Danny Fichelscher - drums, guitar & vocals. with Jimmy Jackson - organ. Olaf Kubler - sax. Al Gromer - sitar.
Proper songs and Duul II in fine heavier form. The opening track is an absolute stormtrooper and begs to be played loud. If only Yes aged this well. The hippy Californian dream is revisited before the trademark Duul II wah-funk and Bowie breaks draw us into the city wastelands to meet our ancestors. Warning shots across the bows and its Wolf City a half spoken pleasuretrip krautspacegroove leading into a ethnic rhythmic stroll through the park with echoes of Caravan, Gong, Curved Air and Fairport Convention before ending up in India. The thickest and slowest riff of all time follows and you have to give it a gracious nod of approval. Sleepwalker's Timeless Bridge sounds so familiar with Byrds guitars and hippy dreams. It all ends in a mass outbreak of jollity underpinned by classic lush mellotron drones.
6. Ash Ra Tempel - Ash Ra Tempel
Amboss 19:40
Traummaschine 25:24
(Recorded 9th-11th March 1971 - Released 1971)
Hartmut Enke - bass & electronics. Klaus Schulze - drums & electronics. Manuel Gottsching - guitar & electronics.
The classic three man rock line-up taken to the extremes of the planet. Amboss is the mother of all jams without ever having to resort to technical wizardry. It's like listening at a festival from the comforts of your two man tent with the wind catching on each sound and pulling at it like a family of kids around a giant pot of swiss cheese fondue. You've baked your beans black to the bottom of the saucepan and soaked up the sauce with the last crumb of bread. Crashed out from the efforts of the night before you're in a complete daze and world of your own. You know that something great is happening on stage but you can't be bothered to climb out of your soggy sleeping bag to check on it although you can only vaguely see the stage over on the hilltop. If someone asks in ten years time you will say that you were right there up the front leading the crowd in totally numbed approval. Traummaschine is entirely different and instead of being rock based is serenely Gothic in character. It appears to evolve over time with no real sense or purpose. It makes playful grabs at you and then drags you by your hair backwards through the mire before releasing you by the edge of an oasis pleasuredome. It ebbs and flows between Manuel Gottsching and Klaus Schulze showing us brief glimpses of what will transpire from both of these giant Krautrock figures in the future. You will either love it or hate it.
7. Ash Ra Tempel - Schwingungen
Light And Darkness
Light: Look at your sun 6:34
Darkness: Flowers must die 12:22
Schwingungen
Suche & Liebe 19:23
(Recorded 9th-13th February 1972 - Released 1972)
Hartmut "Indra Roger" Enke - guitar, bass, electronics. Manuel Gottsching - guitar, organ, electronics, choir. Wolfgang Muller - drums & vibes. with John L. - vocals, jaw-harp & percussion. Matthias Wehler - alto sax. Uli Pop - bongos.
Magic!
8. Ash Ra Tempel & Timothy Leary - 7Up
Space 16:03
a. Downtown
b. Power Drive
c. Right Hand Lover
d. Velvet Genes
Time 21:37
a. Timeship
b. Neuron
c. SHe
(Recorded 9th-10th August 1972 - Released 1973)
Timothy Leary - voice. Brian Barritt - voice. Liz Elliott - voice. Bettina Hohls - voice. Portia Nkomo - voice. Mickey Duwe - voice & flute. Hartmut "Hawk" Enke - bass, guitar & electronics. Manuel Gottsching - guitar & electronics. Steve A. Schroyder - organ & electronics. Dietmar Burmeister - drums. Tommy Engel - drums. Dieter Dierks - synthesizer & Radio Downtown.
The ultimate kraut trip!
Link to Brian Barritt
9. Ash Ra Tempel - Join Inn
Freak 'n' Roll 19:15
Jenseits 24:18
(Recorded December 1972 - Released 1973)
Hartmut Enke - Gibson bass. Manuel Gottsching - guitar. Klaus Schulze - drums, synthesizers & electronics. Rosi Muller - voice.
Klaus back in the fold and it shows on Jenseits - but Freak 'n' Roll!!!
10. Can - Monster Movie
Father cannot yell 7:01
Mary, Mary so contrary 6:16
Outside my door 4:06
Yoo Doo Right 20:14
(Recorded October 1968-July 1969 - Released 1969)
Malcolm Mooney - vocals. Holger Czukay - bass. Michael Karoli - guitar. Jaki Leibezeit -drums. Irmin Schmidt - keyboards.
Superb - I cannot yet describe my feeling for it - the first Can album and probably the very best!
11. Can - Soundtracks
Deadlock (from Deadlock) 3:25
Tango Whiskyman (from Deadlock) 4:02
Deadlock (Titelmusic) 1:40
Don't turn the Light on, leave me alone (from Cream) 3:42
Soul Desert (from Madchen Mit Gewalt) 3:46
Mother Sky (from Deep End) 14:30
She brings the Rain (from Bottom - Ein Grober Graublauer Vogel) 4:04
(Recorded November 1969-August 1970 - Released 1970)
Malcolm Mooney or Damo Suzuki - vocals. Holger Czukay - bass. Michael Karoli - guitar. Jaki Leibezeit - drums. Irmin Schmidt - keyboards.
Can's answer to the Faust Tapes - not a proper album on its release but now treated as such - still absolutely wonderful!
12. Can - Tago Mago
Paperhouse 7:29
Mushroom 4:08
Oh Yeah 7:22
Halleluhwah 18:32
Aumgn 17:22
Peking O 11:35
Bring me Coffee or Tea 6:47
(Recorded November 1970-February1971 - Released 1971)
Holger Czukay - bass, editor & engineer. Michael Karoli - guitars. Jaki Leibezeit - drums. Damo Suzuki - vocals. Irmin Schmidt - keyboards.
Not my favourite of the early Can albums, but a lot of other peoples. Classic Can grooves and noises - be warned though before attempting Aumgn alone in a darkened room!
13. Can - Ege Bamyasi
Pinch 9:28
Sing Swan Song 4:18
One More Night 5:35
Vitamin C 3:34
Soup 10:25
I m so green 3:03
Spoon 3:03
(Recorded December 1971-June 1972 - Released 1972)
Damo Suzuki - vocal. Holger Czukay - e.bass. Michael Karoli - e.guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string & shenai. Jaki Leibezeit - drums. Irmin Schmidt - organ, e.piano, clavioline & steel guitar.
Ege Bamyasi starts with the jazzy percussive groove of Pinch which sets the whole tone and ebbs and flows in fine Can tradition. Sing Swan Song evolves from bubbling waters before developing into a superb nodding dog slightly eastern mystic groove with Damo turning the whole thing into a proper song. One More Night is another light percussive bass groove set around a repetitive simple pattern with Damo's trance-like vocals. Vitamin C continues in a similarly light groove but this time Damo's vocals lift it upwards through a beautifully melodic ending before it breaks down into the ten minute Soup. This is a far more experimental groove but still based around a similar percussive loop. The main difference is that there is little melody and shouted vocals before it evaporates into a freeform bass and drum fantasy whereupon weird electronic sweeps topped by Damo's preaching take us into a food fight where bowls are upturned over your head for no apparent reason whatsoever. Can devotees will wax lyrically for hours on end over Soup without ever admitting that it is absolute crap. I m so green brings us back to the normal Can shuffle groove but without showing us anything new. It all ends with Spoon which sounds like it could loop straight back to Pinch to start the whole thing off again. Classic and timeless Can grooves.
14. Can - Delay
Butterfly 8:20
Pnoom 0:26
Nineteen Century Man 4:18
Thief 5:03
Man named Joe 3:54
Uphill 6:41
Little Star of Bethlehem 7:09
(Recorded 1968-1969 - Released 1981)
Holger Czukay - bass. Michael Karoli - guitar. Jaki Leibezeit - drums. Malcolm Mooney - vocals. Irmin Schmidt - keyboards.
It should never have been delayed! Excellent.
15. Cluster - Cluster II
plas 6:16
im suden 12:50
fur die katz' 3:05
live in der fabrik 14:41
georgel 5:37
nabitte 2:40
(Recorded January 1972 - Released 1972)
Dieter Moebius - Guitars, keyboards, electronics, percussion & FX. Hans-Joachim Roedelius - Guitars, keyboards, electronics, percussion & FX.
For some reason I always seem to come away from this album feeling disappointed. It just doesn't ever really get to satisfy. It seems to meader at will without ever achieving anything positive and is totally tuneless. Just when you think that it might be getting there it just shudders to a halt as if its waiting for you to do something like the cursor on the page throbbing throbbing. It can be quite disturbing. It reminds me of the city-scape scenes in Blade Runner with all the dark inhabitants at ground level dodging the shadows but up above the planes, trains etc are wizzing about their business ferrying faceless people to who knows where. Frankly I'm unsure whether this album deserves its place in the top 50 as I don't like it, but that could be a very good and highly justifiable reason for including it as it achieves its objectives superbly.
16. Cluster - Zuckerzeit
Hollywood 4:40
Caramel 3:00
Rote Riki 6:10
Rosa 4:08
Caramba 3:55
Fotschi Tong 4:15
James 3:18
Marzipan 3:15
Rotor 2:38
Heibe Lippen 2:20
(Recorded 1974 - Released 1975)
Dieter Moebius & Hans-Joachim Roedelius - e.organ, piano, rhythm-machine, Davoli & Farfisa synthesizers, Hawaii & e.guitar.
This is more like it, basic unpretentious rubbish. Hollywood starts up and virtually instantaniously falls apart, it is so loose with the boxy rhythm-machine barely managing to keep up. Caramel is in early one fingered synth pop territory and reminds me of early Human League. The clangers then appear with some 6 minutes of blips and blops in experimental kazoo, fart mode. Totally unlistenable but magnificently executed. Rosa is light relief and actually manages a bit of a tune albeit thin and uninspired with the same boxy rhythm. If any of you have ever heard or played with a wasp sythesizer then you will love all this, colourful, plasticy tacky and minus a proper keyboard. Find a sound, bang out some sort of beat and away you go. It just gets worse as it goes along, except for Marzipan which I love, but that is its strength, not a weakness and it will not be denied. If you buy it then I bet you won't play it very often, however it is very reassuring to know that you possess such a brilliantly crap album.
17. Cluster - Sowiesoso
Sowiesoso 7:17
Halwa 2:47
Dem Wanderer 3:47
Umleitung 3:25
Zum Wohl 6:50
Es war einmal 5:25
In Ewigkeit 7:10
(Recorded 1976 - Released 1976)
Dieter Moebius & Hans-Joachim Roedelius - All instruments.
This album is refreshing good and reaches parts that some do not even dare venture. It is so so gentle with you. The opening track descends across the vast empty desert with a simple one-chord vibe and chunky rhythm box. Synth voices and strings float overhead but nothing really happens and it doesn't need to. A couple of minutes of eastern promise and we're back wandering the wastelands however this is far more urban territory. Then we're floating across the plains where the whole village comes out to greet us. Soaring through the skies we are a great bird drifting through the clouds. Then you're back as a small child, innocently exploring with wide bug eyes in total awe of your warm surroundings. Then its late and dark and you're caught on the tide gently drifting in the shallow bay. Lulled slowly and sweetly so as to sleep and dream.......like a warm mug of thick and creamy chocolate - wonderful.
18. Tony Conrad w/ Faust - Outside The Dream Syndicate
From the side of man and womankind 26:58
From the side of the machine 26:05
From the side of woman and mankind (Bonus) 20:05
(Recorded October 1972 - Released 1972)
Tony Conrad - violin. Rudolf Sosna - electronics & guitar. Jean-Herve Peron -bass. Werner Diermeier - drums.
I drool over the simplicity of this - play it over and over again - it could be seamless!
19. Cosmic Jokers - Cosmic Jokers
Galactic Joke 22:39
a: 7:10
b: 6:44
c: 8:45
Cosmic joy 19:25
a: 9:19
b: 10:06
(Recorded February-May 1973 - Released 1974)
Manuel Gottsching - guitar. Klaus Schulze - synthesizer. Dieter Dierks - bass & mixing. Harold Grosskopf - drums. Jurgen Dollase - keyboards.
The first Cosmic Jokers album to be credited to them - It is no joke - it is Kosmische!
Link to Kosmische 2000
20. Cosmic Jokers - Galactic Supermarket
Kinder des Alls 18:54
Galactic Supermarket 19:24
(Recorded February-May 1973 - Released 1974)
Klaus Schulze - synthesizers. Manuel Gottsching - guitars. Jurgen Dollase - mellotron & piano. Harald Grosskopf - drums. Dieter Dierks - bass & mixing. Rosi Muller - vocals. Gille Letmann - vocals.
Still wonderful - they did nothing wrong!
21. Cosmic Jokers - Planeten Sit-In
Raumschiff Galaxy startet 1:04
The Planet of Communication 0:55
Elektronenzirkus 0:37
Der Narr im All 1:16
Raumschiff Galaxy fliegt in der Sonne 2:12
Intergalactic Nightclub 4:08
Loving Frequencies 3:18
Electronic News 3:56
Intergalactic Radio Gurl Broadcasting 4:24
Raumschiff Galaxy gleitet im Sonnenwind 0:40
Interstellar Rock: Kosmische Musik 3:11
Raumschiff Galaxy saust in die Lichtbahnen 0:44
Der Planet des Stemenmadchens 8:21
(Recorded February-May 1973 - Released 1974)
Features the regular Cosmic Couriers crowd.
...and it is the usual excellent Jokers fare!
22. Cosmic Jokers - Sci-Fi Party
Part 1. Im Reich der Magier
Im Reich der Magier 8:27
Der Herrscher 2:48
The Cosmic Couriers Meet South Philly Willy 5:25
Part 2. Die Galaxie der Freude
Kinder des Alls I 3:40
The Electronic Scene 2:23
Kinder des Alls II 3:43
Interplay of Forces 5:13
Planeten Sit In 3:15
(Recorded February-May 1973 - Released 1974)
Gille Letmann - voice. Brian Barritt - voice. Walter Wegmuller - voice. Rosi Muller - voice. Jurgen Dollase - keyboards. Harald Grosskopf - drums. Jerry Berkers - bass. Hartmut Enke - guitar. Manuel Gottsching - guitar. Klaus Schulze - synthesizers. Walter Westrupp - various. Dieter Dierks -bass.
A compilation of Kosmische output rather than a pure Jokers album - it's still great though (even Wallenstein!)
23. Cosmic Jokers & Sternmadchen - Gilles Zeitschiff
Part One Mr. Energy
Tim bleibt bei uns 7:06
Downtown 2:42
Lord Krishna 1:23
Power Drive 1:40
Bei Tim 1:50
Right Hand Lover 1:33
Cosmic Courier Bon Chance 2:55
Part 2 Silver Channels
Swiss High-Lands 1:19
Der Magier 2:45
The Electronic Scene 3:38
Electronic Rock Zeitalter 11:09
So Beautiful 3:51
The Queen of Sunshine 3:22
Meine Kosmiche Musik 1:46
(Recorded 1973 - Released 1974)
Gille Letmann - spoken word. Timothy Leary - spoken word. Walter Wegmuller - spoken word. R-U Kaiser - spoken word & producer. Brian Barritt - spoken word. Liz Elliott - spoken word. Klaus Schulze - synthesizers. Manuel Gottsching - guitar. Hartmut Enke - bass, guitar & FX. Jurgen Dollase - keyboards. Harald Grosskopf - drums. Tommy Engel - drums. Dietmar Burmeister - drums. Dieter Dierks - synthesizer & mix.
More samples from the Kosmische output - Cosmic!
24. Faust - Faust
Why Don't You Eat Carrots 9:31
Meadow Meal 8:02
Miss Fortune 16:35
(Recorded live at Wumme, 21st September 1971 - Released 1971)
Arnulf Meifert - drums. Werner Diermeier - drums. Hans-Joachim Irmler - organ. Gunter Wusthoff - synthesizer & sax. Rudolf Sosna - guitar & keyboards. Jean-Herve Peron - bass + Kurt Graupner.
Voices - Carrots - Florentine Papst, Meadow Meal - Peron, Sosna, Said The Angel To The Queen - Peron, Meifert.
Classic - No longer so rare! - you've read about it all the time so why not get it and see what you've been missing all these years! When you quote Faust in the future at least you will be able to do it from a base of knowledge!
25. Faust - So Far
It's a Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl 7:21
On the way to Abamae 2:42
No Harm 10:09
So Far 6:12
Mamie is Blue 5:55
I've Got My Car and My TV 3:42
Picnic on a Frozen River 0:36
Me Lack Space... 0:40
...In the Spirit 2:59
(Recorded at Wumme, March 1972 - Released 1972)
Werner Dermaier - drums. Hans-Joachim Irmler - organ. Jean-Herve Peron - bass. Rudolf Sosna - guitar & keyboards. Gunter Wusthoff - synthesizer & sax.
Voices - No Harm - Peron, Manie - Sosna, Car and TV - Faust and children, conducted by Zappi, Me Lack Space - Peron, In the Spirit - Peron
To me this is the classic Faust album - every track a gem and every pound well spent! Again not so rare anymore!
26. Faust - The Faust Tapes
Rumoured Titles:
Flash-Back Caruso
Schempal Buddha (J'ai mal aux Dents)(I Have Toothache)
Humphrey Bogart
Doctor Schwitters
7/5/4
Los Hideros
Finnish Autumn
Stretch Out
Der Baum (The Tree)
Ma Chambre
(My Room) 43:46
Titles from the Wumme Years Box Set:
Exercise - with several hands on a piano 0:52
Exercise - with voices, drum and sax 0:21
Flashback Caruso 4:01
Exercise - with voices 1:48
J'ai Mal Aux Dents 7:14
Untitled 1:03
Untitled - Arnulf and Zappi on drums 1:42
Dr. Schwitters intro 0:25
Exercise (continues track 1) 1:11
Untitled 1:18
Untitled 0:50
Dr. Schwitters snippet 0:49
Untitled - Arnulf on drums 1:03
Untitled - Arnulf on drums 0:47
Untitled - All on saxes 1:33
Untitled 2:18
Untitled - Rudolf 0:38
Untitled - Rudolf 0:51
Untitled - Rudolf - 1:15
Untitled 2:28
Untitled 0:20
Untitled 1:13
Untitled 0:59
Stretch Out Time 1:35
Der Baum 3:49
Chere Chambre 3:07
(Recorded June 1971-June 1973 - Released 1973)
Arnulf Meifert - drums. Werner Diermeier - drums. Rudolf Sosna - guitar & keyboard. Hans-Joachim Irmler - organ. Jean-Herve Peron - bass. Gunter Wusthoff - synthesizer & sax.
Voices - Flashback Caruso - Sosna, 4. Exercise - Nettelbeck, J'ai Mal Aux Dents - Peron, Stretch Out Time - Sosna, Der Baum - Peron, Chere Chambre - Peron
Anyone around in the early seventies possessed this album - it was so cheap you bought it! Whether you liked it, appreciated it or understood it is a different matter and it mattered nowt - how come it costs so much now compared to then!?
27. Faust - IV
Krautrock 11:47
The Sad Skinhead 2:43
Jennifer 7:11
Just A Second (Starts Like That!) 3:36
Picnic On A Frozen River, Deuxieme Tableux 7:45
Giggy Smile 4:28
Lauft...Heisst Das Es Lauft Oder Es Kommt Bald...Lauft 3:41
It's A Bit Of A Pain 3:09
(Recorded June 1973 - Released 1973)
Werner Diermeier - drums. Hans-Joachim Irmler - organ. Gunter Wusthoff - synthesizer, sax & sleeve art. Rudolf Sosna - guitar & keyboards. Jean-Herve Peron - bass.
Faust go straight! Always in the bargain section and my, is it a bargain!!
28. Guru Guru - U.F.O.
Stone In 5:42
Girl Call 6:21
Next Time See You At The Dalai Lhama 5:58
Ufo 10:25
Der LSD - Marsch 8:29
(Recorded June 1970 - Released 1970)
Mani Neumeier - drums, percussion, e.drums, gongs, voice, tape & Contactmike. Uli Trepte - bass, microphone, transistor radio, intercom & mixer. Ax Genrich - guitar, echo-units & pedals.
The more I play this the more I get from it - I once played it every night for a week - after a couple of days I knew that I was on to something - like deciphering an ancient script!
29. Sergius Golowin - Lord Krishna Von Goloka
Der Reigen 16:57
Die weibe Alm 6:09
Die Hoch-Zeit 19:38
(Recorded 1972-1973 - Released 1973)
Sergius Golowin - spoken word. Jerry Berkers - bass & guitars, bongos & vocals. Jurgen Dollase - piano, mellotron, vibraphone, triangle & guitar. Jorg Mierke - e.guitar, organ, percussion, spoken word & vocals, flute, electronics & congas. Klaus Schulze - drums & percussion, organ, mellotron, guitars & electronics. Walter Westrupp - acoustic guitar, flute, mouth-organ, South Cambodian windchimes, psalter, tablas & percussion. Bernd Witthuser - acoustic guitar.
The first real Cosmic Jokers album although not credited to them - and one of the best!
30. Harmonia - Musik Von Harmonia
Watussi 5:55
Sehr Kosmisch 10:55
Sonnenschein 3:50
Dino 3:30
Ohrwurm 5:05
Ahoi! 5:00
Veterano 3:55
Hausemusik 4:30
(Recorded June-November 1973 -Released 1974)
J. Roedelius - organ, piano, guitar & e. percussion. Michael Rother - guitar, piano, organ & e. percussion. Dieter Moebius - synthesizer, guitar & e. percussion.
The terrible cheap & tacky sleeve put me off for years before I took the plunge - a garden of delights is inside though!
31. Harmonia - Deluxe
De Luxe (Immer Wieder) 9:45
Walky-Talky 10:35
Monza (Rauf Und Runter) 7:07
Notre Dame 4:15
Gollum 4:35
Kekse 5:35
(Recorded June 1975 - Released 1975)
Michael Rother - guitars, keyboards, vocals. Hans-Joachim Roedelius - keyboards, vocals. Dieter Moebius - synthesizer, Nagoya harp & vocals. with Mani Neumeier - drums.
Deluxe!
32. Kraftwerk - Kraftwerk 1
Ruckzuck 7:47
Stratovarius 12:10
Megaherz 9:30
Vom Himmel Hoch 10:12
(Recorded July-September 1970 - Released 1970)
Ralf Hutter - organ. Florian Schneider - flute, violin, e. percussion. Andreas Hohmann - drums. Klaus Dinger - drums.
The first cone album and after all these years it still stands up!
Link to Kraftwerk
33. La Dusseldorf - La Dusseldorf
Dusseldorf 13:18
La Dusseldorf 4:29
Silver Cloud 8:33
Time 9:27
(Recorded September-December 1975 -Released 1976)
Klaus Dinger - guitar & vocals. Thomas Dinger - percussion, vocals & light. Hans Lampe - percussion & electronics. with Nikolaus Van Rhein - keyboards & synthesizer. Harald Konietzko - bass.
Yessss!!!
34. La Dusseldorf - Viva
Viva 2:35
White Overalls 2:07
Rheinita 7:40
Vogel 1:30
Geld 6:23
Cha Cha 2000 20:01
(Recorded June-September 1978 - Released 1978)
Klaus Dinger - vocals, percussion & guitars. Thomas Dinger - drums & vocals. Hans Lampe - drums & percussion. with Andreas Schell - piano. Nikolaus Van Rhein - keyboards & synthesizers. Harald Konietzko - occasional bass.
Cha Cha Cha!
35. Moebius & Plank - Rastakraut Pasta
News 4:53
Rastakraut Pasta 6:17
Feedback 66 4:57
Missi Cacadou 5:31
Two Oldtimers 7:02
Solar Plexus 4:55
Landebahn 1:28
Conditionierer (Bonus) 8:46
Infiltration (Bonus) 7:40
Tollkuhn (Bonus) 6:!1
Osmo-Fantor (Bonus) 4:27
Nordostliches Gefuhl (Bonus) 7:13
(Recorded September 1979 - Released 1979 - Bonus tracks are the complete Material album Recorded July 1981 - Released 1981)
Dieter Moebius & Conny Plank - all instruments. Holger Czukay - bass.
Wunderbar!
36. Neu! - Neu!
Hallogallo 10:07
Sonderangebot 4:50
Weissensee 6:42
Im Gluck 6:52
Negativland 9:46
Lieber Honig 7:15
(Recorded December 1971 - Released 1972)
Klaus Dinger - percussion, guitar, vocals & Japanese banjo. Michael Rother - guitar, deliguitar, bass & double-bass.
Just like Faust, Neu! have a lot to answer for - they have been an influence on so many - buy the original, you'll not be disappointed!
37. Neu! - Die 2
Fur Immer (Forever) 11:00
Spitzenqualitat 4:58
Gedenkminute (Fur A + K) 1:00
Lila Engel (Lilac Angel) 4:35
Neuschnee 78 2:38
Super 16 3:37
Neuschnee 3:59
Cassetto 1:50
Super 78 1:35
Hallo Excentrico 3:43
Super 3:07
(Recorded January 1973 - Released 1973)
Michael Rother - guitar, bass, piano, fiddle, zither, percussion & electronics. Klaus Dinger - Japanese banjo, 11-string guitar, percussion, Farfisa piano, Bandonion, speaking, electronic & record-player.
This would be descibed today as an experimental remix album, although this one is a true classic. The recording budget was very tight and the album ended up as basically one track, the 11 minute Fur Immer, which was a revision of Hallogallo from the first album. This was then added and subtracted to and played at various tempos - Normal, Super 16, Super 78 and place your finger on the tape and hope for the best. How John Peel ever managed to select the right speed I do not know. The rest of the album is made up of experimental sounds, but at all times these are still very safe and listenable. The final track Super must have spawned a hundred Public Image clones and strains to be let off its leash. If they had been provided with access to samplers then they probably would have turned this album into a 6 or 8 CD boxed set, something that Stereolab have actually done already and turned into a successful career. You've probably heard all this album before without even realising it as its been an influence to thousands of bands but this is the original and it still sounds refreshingly satisfying even after all these years.
38. Neu! - Neu! '75
Isi 5:00
Seeland 6:57
Leb'wohl 8:51
Hero 6:15
E-musik 10:50
After Eight 4:42
(Recorded December 1974-January 1975 - Released 1975)
Klaus Dinger - voice, percussion, guitar, piano & organ. Michael Rother - guitar, piano, synthorchestra, electronics & voice. Thomas Dinger - drums. Hans Lampe - drums.
If you are thinking kraut then you will need to find a space in your rack for Neu!
39. Popol Vuh - Affenstunde
Iche mache einen Spiegel 3:32
Dream Part 4 5:12
Dream Part 5 4:41
Dream Part 49 7:37
Affenstunde 18:35
(Released 1971)
Florian Fricke - Moog synthesizer. Holger Trulzsch - percussion. Frank Fiedler - synthesizer-mixdown.
Affenstunde appears to be based around interplanetary communications with strange moog murmuring and tuneless jitterings to the fore but interspersed with percussive rhythms. The occasional UFO is sighted on the horizon and your home movie is shaky and the whole picture drifts in and out of focus. The more you listen however you realise that it is all an elaborate hoax. The timescape suddenly shifts back to a tribal ritual past with every single pot and pan in the kitchen being utilised to its full potential. After a further period of ice-age the planet warms and we're into early spring with mists rising from the crisp waters and heading back out into space. There is no reply. The lengthy Affenstunde sets off on a collision course journey backwards and forwards through numerous visions of past wars and conflicts before the ghosts appear. Then its back to dialling the planets for signs of a better life but we can't quite break off our shackles and the plugs and cables do not quite reach or fit. We are alone but have to keep searching.
40. Popol Vuh - In Den Garten Pharoas
In den Garten Pharaos 17:37
Vuh 19:48
(Recorded 1972 - Released 1972)
Florian Fricke - Moog Synthesizer, organ & Fender piano. Holger Trulzsch - African & Turkish percussion. Frank Fiedler - Moog synthesizer mixdown.
The classic cosmic Vuh!
41. Popol Vuh - Einjager & Siebenjager
Kleiner Krieger 1:05
King Minos 4:30
Morgengrub 2:55
Wurfelspiel 3:00
Gutes Land 5:13
Einsjager & Siebenjager 19:30
(Recorded May 1974 - Released 1975)
Florian Fricke - piano & spinette. Danny Fichelscher - e. & acoustic guitar, drums & percussion. Djong Yun - vocal. with Olaf Kubler - flute.
Lighter, trippier Vuh with guitars and piano to the fore!
42. Popol Vuh - Hosianna Mantra
Hosianna Mantra:
Ah! 4:43
Kyrie 5:20
Hosianna Mantra 10:15
Das 5. Buch Mose:
Abschied 3:10
Segnung 6:00
Andacht 0:40
Nicht Hoch Im Himmel 6:17
Andacht 0:35
(Recorded 1972 - Released 1973)
Popol Vuh (Florian Fricke) - piano & cembalo. Conny Veit - 12-string & e.guitar. Robert Eliscu - oboe. Dyong Yun - vocals. Klaus Weise - tamboura. with Fritz Sonnleitner - violin.
More piano and more guitar!
43. Tangerine Dream - Electronic Meditation
Genesis 5:56
Journey Through A Burning Brain 12:22
Cold Smoke 10:38
Ashes To Ashes 4:06
Resurrection 3:27
(Recorded October 1969 - Released 1970)
Edgar Froese - 6 & 12-string guitars, organ, piano, broken glass. Klaus Schulze - drums, metalstick, whip. Conrad Schnitzler - cello, violin, guitar.
Just buy it, keep it and play it forever - it is a true classic of pre-sythesizer krautness and gives insight into the whole pre-history!
44. Tangerine Dream - Alpha Centauri
Sunrise In The Third System 4:20
Fly And Collision Of Coma Sola 13:05
Alpha Centauri 22:00
(Recorded January 1971 - Released 1971)
Chris Franke - percussion, lotos flute, pianoharp, zither & synthesizer. Edgar Froese - guitar, gliss bass, organ, voice & coffee machine. Steve Schroyder - organ, voice, several echo machines, iron stick. with Udo Dennebourg - flute & words. Roland Paulyck - synthesizer.
TD use synthesizers!
45. Tangerine Dream - Zeit
Birth Of Liquid Plejades 20:00
Nebulous Dawn 18:00
Origin Of Supernatural Probabilities 20:12
Zeit 17:43
(Recorded May 1972 - Released 1972)
Chris Franke - VCS3 synthesizer, cymbals & keyboard. Edgar Froese - gliss guitar & generator. Peter Baumann - VCS3 synthesizer, organ & vibraphon. with Steve Schroyder - organ. Florian Fricke - moog synthesizer. Jochen Von Grumbcow - cello. Hans Joachim Brune - cello. Johannes Lucke - cello. Christian Vallbracht - cello.
Zeit (time) is an absolutely weird double album. It's title is well chosen because this album is not suitable for hectic listeners at all! The flow of music is gentle and slow and it seems as though nothing happened. But it does if you can get into it - which is not easy! Listen yourselves, it is too hard to describe Zeit decently. Music from a different galaxy. - by Wah-Wah.
46. Tangerine Dream - Atem
Atem 20:24
Fauni Gena 10:45
Circulation Of Events 5:49
Wahn 4:29
(Recorded December 1972-January 1973 - Released 1973)
Edgar Froese - mellotron, guitar, organ, voice. Peter Baumann - organ, VCS3 synthesizer, piano. Chris Franke - organ, VCS3 synthesizer, percussion & voice.
This is a both a Patrick Moore and a David Attenborough of a disc. It is an epic journey as if propelled and funded by an entire BBC department for a year before being blasted off in a time capsule to the far reaches of outer space. Atem is classic early TD in all its full colour wide screen cinematic glory. Pounding drums, rich church organs, fluid synths, gentle classical strings, bubblings, warblings, twitterings, rumblings it's all here, 20 minutes of seismic pleasure. Fauni Gena is an exploration through a thick lush rainforest. It is early morning and the mists are rising. You can feel the leeches sucking on your blood and you are raw from the bites of the overnight insects. You are not alone, you know that you are being watched and you have to get away. You find your way to a clearing and there is a small circle of huts. You search in vain, the fire is still smoking...........Circulation of Events is a welcome relief as the monster drifts by oblivious to your presence although there is a common sense of unease in its melody. It all ends quite weirdly with echoed voices, toms and more synths beating us to a primitive pulp.
47. Klaus Schulze - Irrlicht
Ebene 29:00
Gewitter energy rise-energy collaps
Exil Sils Maria 21:27
(Recorded April 1972 - Released 1972)
Klaus Schulze - synthesizer, organ (a very big one!), guitar, voice, choral vocals, percussion.
A superb spiritual experience utilising soaring cathedral organ as the main texture. Imagine huge stained glass windows, vast marble pillars and cavenous ceilings - spend a night in and nail yourself to the cross. Heavy going at times but once you get truly involved it takes over your entire senses. Obvious trademark Klaus Schulze as nobody drifts across those two chords so emotionally and methodically. When Klaus decides to go quiet mist drifts over you in entire washes! Ghosts start to appear before your very eyes, however all is serene and non-threatening. A cosmic classic.
48. Klaus Schulze - Black Dance
Ways Of Changes 17:20
Some Velvet Phasing 8:29
Voices Of Syn 22:41
(Recorded May 1974 - Released 1974)
Klaus Schulze - synthesizer, organ, piano, percussion, phase-trumpet, 12-string acoustic, orchestra. Ernst Walter Simon - bass voice.
Far more wispy and thinner than the organ rich Irrlicht with delicate guitar picking and rhythmic congas/bongos/drum box. The usual trademark Klaus drones and just when you think it is starting to meander round in circles he suddenly throws a bit of a wobbly melody line, but always manages to bring it all back safely together again. Some Velvet Phasing is similar to the early rhythmless synthesizer outings of Tangerine Dream, so there's a recommendation to start with. I am always amazed how you can smell dear Klaus from a thousand paces - it is so so obvious. How many other albums will you own with an operatic/spiritual bass voice that you even dare to play? I bought this in my teens just for the wonderful surreal sleeve and have owned numerous copies since. Play it to death - it will never wear you out and after a while it becomes a wise but elderly member of the family.
49. Walter Wegmuller - Tarot
Der Narr 3:55
Ker Magier 4:38
Die Hohepriesterin 4:17
Die Herrrscherin 4:16
Der Herscher 2:58
Der Hohepriester 3:10
Die Entscheidung Der Wagen 9:06
Die Gerchtidkeit 3:01
Der Weise 4:01
Glucksrad 3:38
Die Kraft 3:26
Die Prufung 6:12
Der Tod 6:12
Die Massigkeit 4:44
Der Teufel 3:35
Die Zerstorung 4:00
Die Sterne/Der Mond/Die Sonne/Das... 23:00
(Recorded December 1972 - Released 1973)
Walter Wegmuller - text & voice. Jerry Berkers - bass. Jurgen Dollase - mellotron, organ & piano. Hartmut Enke - wa-guitar. Manuel Gottsching - wa- guitar. Klaus Quadro Schulze - synthesizers & voice. Harald Grosskopf - drums. Walter Westrupp - acoustic guitars, mandolin, pipes, voice, etc. Bernd Witthuser - spoken word. Rosi Muller & Dieter Dierks - choir.
Yes, I know that you have to pay an arm and a leg to get this album (but no more as it's been re-released by Spalax - minus the Tarot Cards). Yes, but once you have it you will not worry about the cost. Let the music lift you. It is one on the best albums of all time, ever. However, be warned, do not step into the deep end without first immersing your whole body in the other albums. It is well worth the wait. The music you always dreamed of placed through the Kaiser's Cosmic Courier Mincer. A big fat big 11/10.
THE BEST KRAUTROCK ALBUM IN THE WORLD EVER!!!
50. Witthuser & Westrupp - Trips & Traume
Lass uns auf die reise gehn 4:00
Trippo nova 8:55
Orienta 7:35
Illusion i 4:35
Karlchen 9:05
Englischer walzer 1:38
Nimm doch einen joint, mein freund 3:30
(Recorded March 1971 - Released 1971)
Bernd Witthuser - acoustic & e.guitar, vocals. Walter "Walt" Westrupp - guitar, zither, e. mandolin, psalter, percussion, flute, trombone & trumpet, vocals. Bernd "Curny" Roland - bass & vocals. Renee Zucker - drums, percussion, flute & vocals.
Very folky with Kosmische overtones and undertones - weird and wonderful!
Buy them all and expand your mind!